Channeler mechanism



July 31, 1928.

H. H. MERCER CHANNELER MECHANISM Filed Feb. '7, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 31, 1928.

H. H. MERCER CHANNELER MECHANISM Filed Feb. '7, 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 31, 1928. 1,679,136

H.\H. MERCER CHANNELER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 7, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w N s N w w w c o a x q M o u m m Q u m H fi 2 M m m m n m \Q I I Q m a T m X x R o m 3 R 0 T o m k I. O GLu O \k K FL Em o M M. m n u o 1+x o u H a P m .u v H T u u m H u O v 2 m D 0 on w r w p w wm 2 Q Q kw Q w 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. H. MERCER CHANNELER MECHANISM Filed Feb. v, 1923 July 31, 1928.

[Jen uL/u y Z Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,679,136 PATENT, OFFICE.

HENRY H. MERCER, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SU IlIlIV-AN MACHINERY. COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CHANNELER MECHANISM.

Application filed February My invention relates to channeler mechanisms and more particularly to channeler mechanisms of a type adapted for the very rapid putting down of channels. My inven tion also relates to improvements in the feeding mechanism and controlling mechanism generally for multiple unit channelers.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved channeler mechanism. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved channeler mechanism having improved feeding means. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved channeler mechanism of the multiple gang type having improved means for maintaining regular action of the several gangs in synchronism. A still further object of my invention is to provide improved controlling means for a multiple unit channeler whereby although two three, or four gangs or pairs of gangs may be in operation at the same time the entire series may be readily controlled in a very simple manner. Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form. which my improved channeler mechanism may assume in practice in which the same may be embodied in a multiple gang channeler including improved controlling means therefor.

Inthese drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section centrally through one of the channeler mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the complete multiple gang multiple unit channeler.

Fig. 4. is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown at 1. a truck which is supported by wheels 2 and adapted to run along a track 3. The truck carries at opposite sides thereof a pair of trunnion bars at upon which there are clamped a plurality of channeler mecha nisms each generally designated '5 herein four double gang units one arranged at each corner of the truck. Thechanneler mechanism is of double construction including a 7, 1923. Serial No. 617,582.

pair of parallel sets of guides 6 and 7 respectively in which the crossheads Sand 9 for twin channeler gangs are guided. Arranged substantially in the same vertical plane with the guides 6 and 7 are guides 10 and 11 in which the cylinders 12 of the chopping en gines are reciprocable. The guides 6, 7, 10, and 11 are all mounted upon a sliding frame which is generally designated 13 and which is reciprocable in' guides 14 formed on a standard 14; carried by the trunnion bar. The sliding frame 13 includes not only the guides mentioned but also constitutes a support for a driving motor 15 whose driving pinion 16 meshes with a gear 17 journaled upon a stud 17 projecting from the frame 13, and the gear 17 meshes with and drives a pair of gears 18 and 18 which are secured to crank shaft-s 19 and 20, the cranks of which are arranged at 180 degrees to each other. These crank shafts each comprise a plurality of crank pins 21 and 22 to which there are pivotally connected connecting rods 23 and 24:. The latter at their opposite ends are connected to pins 25 which form part of the lower heads of the cylinders 12 previously referred to. lVithin the cylinders 12 there are arranged pistons 27 having depending piston rods 28 which are connected as at 29 to the crossheads carrying the channeler gangs 30. and the pistons also 'have tail rods 31 which are guided in rear- Wardly extended bosses 32 and enclosed in housings 33 upon the upper cylinder heads. Secured to the sliding frame member 13 by suitable means is a feed nut 34, which nut cooperates with a feed screw 35 which is mounted parallel to the plane of the guide on the'standard member 14 and driven by a worm wheel 36 secured thereto anda worm 37 meshing with the worm wheel, the latter being driven by a sprocket 38 attached thereto.

It will be evident that by controlling the motor 15 it is possible to control the operation of the two gangs of channeler steels. It is further evident that by suitably rotating the sprocket 38 feed in either direction may be accomplished.

By reason of the opposite movements of the two gangs at all times there is produced a very smooth and vibrationless operation. By the positive interlock of the driving gears 18, 18" for the two crank shafts with the single drivin 17, it is practically impossible for the operation of the gangs to depart from their stepped relation, the momentum of the moving parts being so great as to preclude sticking of the steels even in very bad rock. The efficiency is increased also by the fact that the leading gang pushes away the mud and leaves the second gang a practically unhindered blow.

As mentioned above the pair of parallel trunnion bars 4 are arranged at the opposite sides of the truck and at each corner thereof there are arranged the double gangs of channeling tools with operating means therefor. Extending midway between the bars t longitudinally of the truck is a worm shaft 55 upon which a pair of worms 56 are secured. Norm wheels 57 with which the Worms 56 mesh are mounted upon the truck wheel axles 58 and accordingly upon rotation of the worms 56 and driving of the worm wheels 57 thereby the axles 58 will be rotated and so the truck will be propelled by rotation of the truck wheels 2.

Extending longitudinally of the truck in a position parallel to but above the shaft 55 is a shaft 60, which shaft carries the driving means for the feed mechanisms of the several chopping engines. The mechanism by which this drive is accomplished will be more fully described in a short time, but meanwhile it should be noted that a reversible electric motor 61, the opposite ends of whose armature shaft are provided with driving pinions 62 and 63, is supported substantially midway of the length of the truck and the driving pinions 62 and 63 respectively drive spur gears 64 and 65 mounted upon the shafts 55 and 60 respectively, the former being loose on its shaft and the latter tight. Accordingly a single motor supplies the power for the feed of the chopping engine units and for the propulsion of the truck. Arranged upon the shaft 60 are a series of clutch mechanisms of which one is shown in section in Fig. 6. These clutch mechanisms include housings keyed or otherwise suitably held to the shaft and which are designated 66. Within the housing are arranged shafts or dogs 67 which upon partial rotation force friction bands 68 into clutch relation with sleeves 69 which support sprockets 70 around which driving chains 71 pass, which chains are also connected in a manner to pass around the driving sprockets 38. The shafts 67 are provided with levers 67 which may be engaged by cams 72 movable longitudinally of the shaft 60 and these cams upon engagement with the levers rock the latter so as to cause application of the various clutch bands and so cause driving of the several. sprockets 7 O. For the purpose of shifting the several cams 72 to control the clutches I have provided a series of generally parallel operating slide rods 75, 76, 77, and 78, the slide rods 75 and 76 controlling the cams 7 2 which control the feed of the chopping engines on one side of the truck, and the slide rods 77 and 78 controlling the clutches for the other chopping engines. For the purpose of operating the chopping engine feeds from those sides of the truck where the gangs are located I provide coaxially arranged shaft-s 79 and 80 of which the latter is hollow and contains therein the shaft 79. To the outer one of these shafts 80 I secure a socket 81 in which an operating lever 82 is arranged. The shaft 80 carries a depending arm 83 which is connected to a pivot 84: or pin carried by the shaft 75. The shaft 79 has an operating lever 85 and has an upwardly extending rocker arm 86 which is engaged with the operating shaft 76. Similar operating means are provided for the shafts 77 and 78 and are designated by primed members. It will be noted that the cams on the opposite sides of the transverse central line of the truck are oppositely arranged so that movements toward the center will always effect engagement of the clutches. As a result of this construction, it being noted that the rocker arm 86 is upwardly projected and 83 is downwardly projected, it will be evident that, provided the two levers are moved in the same direction, they will effect simultaneous engagement or release of the clutches, while if either is moved separately it will be possible to control the two chopping engines at either end of the truck separately from those at the other.

For the purpose of effecting the control of the propulsion of the truck, a transverse rock shaft 89 having shipper elements 90 thereon and operating levers 91 and 92 at opposite sides of the truck is provided, the same opcrating a clutch mechanism 93 similar to that shown in Fig. 6 and connecting'the gear 6% to the shaft 55 and releasing it for idle rotation.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that it is possible by the operation of the handles 82 and 85 together to effect clutching of the driving sprockets for the feed of the engines at both ends of one side of the truck, that is, all the chopping engines on either side of the truck may be simultaneously controlled or, if desired, the levers 82 and 85 may be separately operated to provide for separate control of the feeds. The levers 82 and 85 may be similarly con trolled to control the engines at the other side of the truck. It will further be evident that by the manipulation of the levers 91, 92, it will be possible to control the propulsion of the truck as desired, these being convenient to the levers 82 and 85, 82 and 85.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a channeling mechanism, a truck, a plurality of channeling mechanisms thereon, arranged one at each corner of said truck, a single motor disposed substantially centrally of said truck, and connections with said motor for feeding said truck and for causing feed of any of said channeling mechanisms toward the work while said channeling mechanisms are operative.

2. In a channeler, a truck, wheeled axles supporting said truck, trunnion bars at each side of said truck, channeling mechanisms having feeding means and arranged on each of said bars, a pair of parallel shafts midway of said truck, a motor driving said shafts, and means for connecting one of said shafts with said axles and the other with said channeler feeding means.

3. In a channeler, a truck, wheeled axles supporting said truck, trunnion bars at each side of said truck, channeling mechanisms having feeding means and arranged on each of said bars, a pair of parallel shafts midway of said truck, a motor driving said shafts, and means for connecting one of said shafts with said axles and the other selectively with one or more of said channeler feeding means.

4. In a channeling mechanism, a main frame, channeler standards disposed at each lateral edge thereof, channeling devices independently longitudinally adjustable on said standards, and means for adjusting said channeling devices on said standards including power operated feeding means and separately or simultaneously graspable control levers for controlling power transmission to said feeding means.

5. In a channeling mechanism, a main frame, standards at each side thereof, channeling devices guided on said standards and means for feeding independently said devices longitudinally of said standards including a plurality of feeding mechanisms, a common driving shaft therefor, and means for connecting said feeding mechanisms in operative relation to said driving shaft including juxtaposed control levers.

6. In a channeling mechanism, a main frame, standards carried thereby at each lateral edge thereof, channeling devices mounted on said standards and means for moving said devices along said standards including independent feeding mechanisms, a common power shaft, clutch means for connecting said power shaft to said feeding mechanisms, and means for controlling said connections including manually operable levers and sockets therefor at opposite sides of the central longitudinal vertical plane of said frame.

7.- In a channeling mechanism, a main frame, standards carried thereby adjacent each lateral edge thereof, channeling devices mounted on said standards and means for moving said devices along said standards including independent feeding mechanisms, a common power shaft, clutch means for connecting said power shaft to said feeding mechanisms, and means for controlling said clutch means including parallel clutch operating rods and coaxially arranged operating shafts for operating said first mentioned shafts.

8. In a channeler mechanism, a main frame, standards thereon, channeler mechanisms on said standards, independent feeding mechanisms for each of said channeler mech anisms including a shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, frame propelling mechanism including a shaft parallel to said last mentioned shaft, and a driving motor having its shaft parallel to said shafts and driving the same from its opposite ends.

9. In a channeling mechanism, a truck, a self-contained channeler unit disposed. on each side of the longitudinal axis of said truck, means for feeding each channeler unit, and means adapted to be selectively connected to one or both feeding means for actuating said feeding means independently or simultaneously.

10. In a channeling mechanism, a truck,a self-contained channeler unit disposed on each side of the longitudinal axis of said truck, and means for feeding the same independently or simultaneously including a common driving motor.

.11. In a channeling mechanism, a truck, a plurality of channeling mechanisms disposed laterally thereon, independent feed ing means for said channelers, feeding means for said truck, both of said feeding means including a common motor with its axis disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck, and driving connections between one end of said motor and said channeler feeding means and between the other end of said motor and said truck feeding means.

12. In a channeling mechanism, a truck, a plurality of self-contained units disposed on each side of the longitudinal axis of said truck, and feeding means for said units including a power driven shaft extending longitudinally of said truck, and independ ent feeding connections for each of said units extending in opposite directions from said shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY I-I. MERCER. 

